A grandfathered health plan (grandfathered plan) is a health plan that was already in effect prior to March 23, 2010, when the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law.
It could be an individual health insurance plan or a group health plan.
A grandfathered plan does not include some of the rights and protections set forth in the ACA.
A plan can lose its “grandfathered” status if significant changes are made that reduce benefits or increase costs for consumers. A health plan must disclose to the insured if it is considered a grandfathered plan.